Category Archives: auto news

Honda Shows eN2 Concept EV at Shanghai

Starting with e:NS1 and e:NP1*, Honda will introduce 10 e:N Series models by 2027 and accelerate electrification in China including sales and production operations. N2 clearly looks to AutoInformed meant to take on the German automakers who have thrived in the world’s largest vehicle market, no matter the motive source.  In the upscale Chinese market, rear seat room is welcomed by the chauffeured owners. Continue reading

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Recharged Heritage to offer MINI EV Conversion

MINI Recharged offers a WLTP range of 103 miles. Continue reading

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Mixed Economic Signals in October US Vehicle Sales

Nonetheless, automaker discounts persist at record lows. Average incentive spending per unit per Power is forecast to total $882, which is down 44.7% from October 2021. This is the sixth straight month below $1000. The question is when do vehicles become un-affordable as the Federal Reserve is deliberately sending the economy into a recession to fight inflation, which the Fed caused by years of of cheap monetary policy that mostly benefited the rich. In a mass market for automobiles, the rich can’t buy all the vehicles as production resumes to pre-pandemic rates that were running at 17 million vehicles annually.  Continue reading

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US October Light Vehicle Sales Grow 11.4% to 1.2 Million

The market viewed by automaker shows that Mercedes-Benz enjoyed the strongest YoY growth in October, with a 53.0% YoY gain. Among higher-volume manufacturers, General Motors showed the strongest growth, up by 51.2% YoY. GM also led the market, with a 17.2% share, 0.9 percentage points (pp) ahead of Toyota Group. Honda Group’s struggles continue with sales down by 16.0% YoY. Stellantis and Ford Motor also saw YoY declines, of 14.0% and 10.2%, respectively. Continue reading

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Ford Motor US Sales Drop 10% during October 2022

A look at the sales by model reveals that Ford is now essentially a truck and SUV maker with dwindling car sales of ~41,000 year-to-date. Lincoln sold no cars at all ytd. Mercedes Benz posted a huge increase in sales of  more than 50%. The difficulty in analyzing what the data mean comes from what sales were from previously placed orders, and when the US will return to a normal sales environment, which might be undefinable at this time. Ford no longer holds sales calls for media and analysts. Continue reading

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GAC-FCA JV to File for Bankruptcy

Stellantis, the mega-merger between FCA and PSA, said last July that the “lack of progress in the previously announced plan for Stellantis to take a majority share in their joint venture” has resulted in the GAC Group and Stellantis to start figure out how to terminate the joint-venture that produces and distributes Jeep products in China. Continue reading

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Autonomous Forklift Startup Backed By BMW i Ventures

While it is abundantly clear that autonomous vehicles are not yet ready for mass deployment on public streets, the same technology is being commercially used in closed warehouse environments today. Continue reading

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Stellantis Hordain to Build Hydrogen-powered, Electric and Combustion Engine Commercial Vehicles

Starting in 2024, the site Hordain will have a mini-mass production capacity of 5,000 vehicles per year of hydrogen-powered utility vehicles. This Stellantis said in a release reaffirms its goal to be the first mass-produced manufacturer of hydrogen-powered utility van vehicles. There is also a labor relations aspect to the move. Stellantis has 12 industrial sites in France, and unlike Ford Motor Company it has a stated “ethical desire not to separate its electric and internal combustion engine businesses, to engage all its employees in the energy transition.” Continue reading

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Once Unthinkable. New Supercars from Nissan, Toyota

The GR Supra GT4 EVO will make its competitive debut in January 2023 at the 24 Hours of Daytona, the first round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season. A ready-to-race GR Supra GT4 EVO will be priced at €186,000 (~$184,771) excluding taxes, customs and logistics fees. Toyota Gazoo Racing engineers have and will continue to provide track support to customer teams and drivers against entries from Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes AMG, Porsche and Ferrari, among others. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Posts Q3 Net Loss of $827 Million

During Q3, Ford decided to shift its capital spending from the L4 advanced driver assistance systems being developed by Argo AI to internally developed L2+/L3 technology. The move was forced on Ford when Argo AI failed to attract new investors. Ford recorded a $2.7 billion non-cash, pretax impairment on its investment in Argo AI, resulting in an $827 million net loss for Q3. Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes were $1.8 billion, higher than the $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion the company estimated in September. Quarterly revenue was $39.4 billion, up 10% from a year ago. Continue reading

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GM Has Enough Renewable Energy for all US Sites by 2025

It’s the latest move in the climate wars by automakers that no longer deny the real damages incurred by fossil fuel use. By using renewable energy, GM aims to avoid 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions that would have been produced between 2025 and 2030. This equals the emissions produced by burning 1 billion pounds of coal. Continue reading

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GM Earns $4.3 Billion in Q3 2022

“This keeps us on track to deliver our third consecutive year of full-size pickup leadership, and our 22nd year as the full-size SUV leader. To build our truck leadership and help maintain our strong margins, Chevrolet and GMC recently unveiled new mid-size and heavy-duty pickups that will launch next year,” said GM chair and CEO Mary Barra. Continue reading

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BYD Toyota EV Technology Company Debuts bZ3 EV in China

It’s a risky strategy that has proven successful so far, but doing business with totalitarian governments can cause disastrous consequences as Putin’s war on Ukraine demonstrated  for European  companies doing business in the region. Continue reading

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Renault Group Q3 – 20% Increase in Revenue at €9.8B

The Group’s orders in Europe remains at an historic level – the same in volume compared to the end of June. Renault Group also confirmed its 2022 financial outlook*, which will probably meet with analyst skepticism given the ongoing economic crisis in Europe and the negative global effects of Putin’s war against Ukraine. Balancing this is a renegotiation of the Alliance with Nissan, which could bring Renault ~$3.3 billion if it cuts it stake to 15% from 43%. Continue reading

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GMC Debuts Electric Sierra Pickup

GMC will likely be the only US brand to offer three all-electric trucks, with the Sierra EV joining the GMC HUMMER EV Pickup and SUV2. Underpinning these three trucks is GM’s Ultium Platform, which enables versatility and claimed optimal performance in an all-electric truck. Continue reading

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